Fresno area police won’t be proactive enforcing Newsom’s masks-in-public rule

Area police agencies are taking a largely hands-off approach to enforcing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order that masks should be worn in most public spaces due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Their policies appear to parallel the approach taken by Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, who said that her deputies would not enforce the order. Law enforcement officials contacted said it’s essentially a matter of prioritizing calls for service.

Jeff La Blue, a spokesman for the Fresno Police Department, said officers were not going to enforce the order if, for example, someone was walking in a public space. He said the department would also look to officials at Fresno City Hall for additional direction.

Clovis Police spokesman Jim Munro said officers would only act in “egregious” cases: As an example, he cited an overcrowded gym or public business, where an officer would contact a manager to advise them of the issue.

Selma Police Chief Joe Gomez said masks haven’t been an issue at most businesses, but noted that some facilities have not been enforcing mask wearing. He said officers would respond to a call of a violation and attempt to get a resolution.

This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 12:41 PM.